40th Anniversary
Not a lot of people went swimming in the Willamette River.
Portland’s
century-old sewers had been designed to let rainwater running off
streets mingle with what gets flushed down toilets. Even
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Dr. Know
At the south end of the Eastbank Esplanade, people lie in the sun and swim in the river, endorsed by WW. At the north end of the Esplanade, a sign says not to eat fish caught in the river. Who shoul
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Can you float against the current in the Willamette?

Dr. Know
I recently floated the Willamette from
Oaks Park to the Sellwood Bridge. Soon after, I found myself in a
vicious bar argument with a friend who swears I couldn’t have floated
north to south,
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News
It’s been a holiday tradition: Willamette River boaters within a stone’s throw from Waterfront Blues Festival’s South stage, jockeying for position as they claim their territory for the four-day event. Boats—from yachts to skiffs—sometimes arrive weeks early for the event, trying to hold space at anchor or along the North Breakwater public dock, just south of the Hawthorne Bridge.But this ...
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What would it take to freeze the Willamette River over?

Dr. Know
All this snow and ice reminded me of those old pictures
where people are driving across the Willamette in their Model T’s. How
cold would it have to get for me to drive my Civic across the river
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Will Levenson, founder of Human Access Project

News Stories
A beach in the middle of Portland? Will Levenson wants
three of them. Until a couple of years ago, it would have been a
ridiculous thought: Regular sewage overflows had Portlanders viewing the
W
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News
Companies expected to pay for a Superfund cleanup of the Portland Harbor have $125,500 less to worry about.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has backed off from fining those companies for dragging their feet on reporting the risk people face by eating contaminated Willamette River fish.The EPA on Monday told the companies it is suspending the fines it began issuing last summer—on the condition ...
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It took $1.4 Billion to change our stream from open sewer to clean blue dream.

Headout
Stretching out deep underground,
it works to keep our river clean
while swimmers race, tubers chain round:
Willamette’s hero, unheard, unseen.
Now as it helps us enjoy summer
o’er a diseased
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Does goose poop represent a significant health threat?

Dr. Know
Let’s talk goose poop: Every park and walkway near the
Willamette River is covered with the stuff. Is it any health threat to
people and pets? —Thomas C.
Before I answer, I’d like to formal
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